The First Akshan Got Backstabbed Before the Holy War

The first Akshan took a blow to the back of the head even before the Holy War. But if you ask whether that led to Akshan's total annihilation...

No, not quite.

'Akshan vanished overnight.'

Even if the demon hunters were wiped out, the Akshan region itself should have remained—that would be the natural order of things. But Akshan disappeared without a trace.

'I didn't see it with my own eyes.'

It's been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a while since I've reflected on it. A gap of over ten years. Still, right after awakening as a player, I made efforts across the board to catch up. That's how I learned, belatedly, that Akshan had clearly been patched out.

'There was no reason to announce it in the first place.'

Demon hunter was trash tier incarnate. Akshan must have been outside players' interest too. You can tell from the class quests.

'I was the only one, after all.'

For someone like me, whose login records had been cut off years ago, they wouldn't bother showing update notes. And anyway, demon hunter wasn't the only class to vanish from Arcana. In the Arcana continent's prelude with its tens of thousands of classes, any not chosen by players would have been swept away without a trace.

'Deletion and creation.'

I recall Omen's power again. And certainty dawns. Yes, Akshan must have been swallowed whole by Omen.

'It exists for the sake of plausibility...'

Even against such an overwhelming foe, I couldn't back down. The reason is simple.

"Bear no grudges."

Not just any grudge, but one for devouring Akshan?

"Thy vessel shall prove insufficient to contain them all."

It must have been truly hopeless. Just look at AAU Korea Branch Chief Park Minjae's reaction. Omen wasn't made to be hunted like a monster in the first place.

'Even those alien demons were monsters destined to appear someday.'

But Omen is different from monsters in nature. It's not even a demon, so I can't leverage my greatest weapon, the natural enemy relationship.

In that sense, it's utterly reassuring.

'Our Akshan seniors.'

Me, Lee Hoyeol. I've learned a lesson from my time in society: self-proclaimed lunatics exist everywhere. But when one of those lunatics is on your side, nothing could be more solid.

'Truly impressive, aren't you?'

I've seen all sorts of people ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in reality and on the Arcana continent, but I've never met anyone quite like our seniors. That's why they left this quest behind, even as they were deleted!

Tenacity incarnate.

"Akshan was overlooked."

Raymon Sean, who approved Akshan's deletion—you didn't know about this either, did you? Who could have predicted it? Akshan, already battered by betrayal in the Holy War, planning such an operation?

And you wouldn't know this either: at this moment, their pride has been passed to me.

"I cannot stand idly by."

Of course. With pride ignited, even if it means sinking, I have no choice but to advance.

So ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no time for lamenting my debts. To avoid sinking, I must thrash efficiently and with plan. Every minute, every second precious—like Grandfell's afternoon tea time.

Soon, my whirring mind yields an answer.

"We return to the territory."

My territory doesn't exist in reality, of course. Naturally, the Claudy family territory.

Omen, was it?

'Good. An eye for an eye.'

To face an absurd foe like Omen, I need to shove an absurd setting right back.

"Prepare on a grand scale."

*

Agentress surveyed the area.

"Not even a trace."

The primordial evil that had cowered in her mother's womb, now escaped from Sisli into the Arcana continent—she hadn't stopped moving to find it. Yet she could find no sign anywhere.

"The task entrusted to me..."

Dawn, the one her mother had chosen, who trusted her and her kin enough to return to his original world. But with no progress on the task? She had no face to show him.

"Lizard..."

Oh no. Habits from eons die hard. Agentress quickly corrected herself.

"No, the dragons cannot act either."

They'd swallowed the evil fruit, after all.

'Damn it.'

Crunch—Agentress bit her lip. If they'd fulfilled their duty, this misfortune wouldn't have happened. Swallowing her regret, she turned her gaze.

The Arcana continent's landscape was desolate beyond words. For the humans surviving in such a land, born an elf, she felt awe for the first time.

To endure this continent with such frail flesh and spirit. Admiration mingled with—

Flash!

A cold remark toward the demons escaped her lips.

"Truly endless."

Thanks to reclaimed pride? The elf's chosen-race superiority was manifesting positively. Slash—along the path Agentress had walked.

"Defile not nature with thy filthy flesh."

No demon survived on that path. The same as always? Outwardly, perhaps. But Agentress knew.

Her large ears caught a faint noise piercing her innate senses.

"...I'm hungry."

"Shh. Be quiet."

"But I am hungry..."

"When it's quiet around, we'll look for something then."

Voices of humans hiding from demons. In the past, she'd never have listened. But eons of built-up superiority don't vanish easily. Agentress shook her head.

'...Forgive my shortcomings, O Dawn.'

You would have helped them. But Agentress lacked confidence. To face humans casually, aside from Hoyeol.

Residual images kept disrupting her mind. The village, Polsta's scene resurfaced.

'I have no right to face humans yet.'

Her deal with the Sin of Gluttony, offering Polsta's residents as sacrifice for immortality.

Step—Agentress erased her presence and approached the humans. An ordinary human wouldn't notice her approach. Thus—

Thud—

"...Huh?"

It was natural they'd startle at food dropped right by their hideout. Was it a trap? They glanced around warily before grabbing it. Only then did Agentress nod.

"Live."

In this situation, this was the best pride she could practice. Time to hurry on.

As Agentress crossed the forest with elven grace—

Flutter—

"?"

Something fluttered from the air. No, as if flying toward her from the start. The drifting thing settled obediently in her grasp.

"...Parchment?"

On the Arcana continent, only her kin would send her letters. Her kin had no reason to bother with letters over telepathy. Then, perhaps...?

Killing intent flickered in Agentress's eyes.

'Sin of Gluttony, that bastard?'

If it was that so-called great evil, it might know something about the primordial evil. Considering the possibility, Agentress unfolded the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠parchment.

"!"

And flinched.

Not the word "invitation" that startled her.

"You truly see through my heart."

The reason was the sender.

As if depicting the sender's visage, the invitation simply stated the matter and bore this inscription.

...

The Claudy family's invitation wasn't just for Agentress. It went to all on the current Arcana continent who could respond to Claudy's call.

''Feasts hosted by the Claudy family move the continent itself—not an exaggeration. Recipients are all giants of the Arcana continent. Yet none have ever refused. Who would decline such honor...?''

But the Claudy family had fallen and been forgotten. Thus, few received the invitation.

However, it was a matter of perspective. Viewed differently, those who knew of Claudy now were giants among giants.

Just them receiving it...

"Has Claudy truly returned?"

"...This warrants confirmation!"

"Calling out the old ones confirms it's Claudy."

...The Arcana continent was shaking.

Of course, the four families received Claudy's invitation too. But the family heads' reactions were markedly different.

"Grandfell, really?"

"How did that guy...?"

"...Will you all accept?"

While the four family heads agonized, time on the Arcana continent flowed four times faster than reality. Meaning...

One by one, the giants were gathering at Claudy territory.

..

''Great family's successor. In past high society, Grandfell was like a desert oasis or mirage. He rarely appeared, shunning social scenes. Yet when he did, all eyes turned...''

Adjusting my appearance in the [Duke Swallin's treasured item]. The Dawn Set, no different from formal wear. I murmured,

"Must endure."

Even Grandfell of the world dreads banquets. So why suddenly send invitations?

Simple. Demons I could handle, but Omen defies estimation.

Unable to gauge the foe's level now, strength in numbers.

'The more allies, the better.'

Yes. Upon discovering Claudy territory, didn't I declare it another burden to bear? With such weight on my shoulders, I might as well use it, deserved or not.

'No grand expectations, of course.'

Claudy is effectively erased from Arcana history now. But still, time to reunite—Yunak Seus, Agentress, and others.

Yes, I merely did what needed doing. But why the stomachache amid self-assurance...?

'...Damn.'

Why? Because when writing those invitations, I ended up penning it myself.

''Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo''!!

If I claimed Claudy invitation but used Lee Hoyeol, it'd look like a prank. So, tearfully, I had to write that cursed full name.

"This too is a weight to bear."

Having vowed responsibility, no backing out.

Positively: 'Maybe...?'

Perhaps living as ''Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo'' on Arcana is better? Horrid in reality, but noble-sounding there. Long for nobility, but...

'Good, separate them.'

Lee Hoyeol in reality, Grandfell on Arcana. Dual names suit better. Totally different worlds, right?

'Just hide it well. Me alone.'

Miscalculation. Some already knew both names. And they had the loudest voices...!

Earth Dragon, Kud Hanas. Lands in Claudy territory. Booms,

"The Earth Dragon Kud Hanas responds to the invitation of the Black Dark Dragon, Lee Hoyeol Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, and arrives at Claudy territory!"

Lee Hoyeol Grandfell what?! Please... shut that mouth somehow...!

You're doing this to see me die, aren't you?!